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ERIE, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University women's basketball team couldn't overcome its lowest scoring first half of the season in suffering a 71-39 defeat on the road at No. 3 Gannon University Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action.

The loss drops The Rock to 4-17 overall and 1-10 in divisional play. Gannon, which moved up one spot to No. 3 in this week's national rankings, improves to 21-1 overall and 10-1 in league games.

Slippery Rock couldn't get anything going in the first half and ended up with season lows of three made field goals and 13 points. Gannon capitalized and opened up a 36-13 halftime lead, a margin The Rock could never recover from.

The game was a stark contrast from the first meeting between the two teams this season, when Slippery Rock put a scare into then second-ranked Gannon in a 76-73 loss at Morrow Field House.

Slippery Rock was led Wednesday night by Aidan Geise with 11 points and eight rebounds. D'Asia Chambers added seven points and Kara Houppert chipped in six points. 

The Rock shot slightly better in the second half to finish the game with a 26.5 percent efficiency from the field, connecting in 13-of-49 attempts, including 7-of-26 from beyond the 3-point arc (26.9 percent), and was 42.9 percent from the free throw line 6-of-14).

Gannon was led by 14 points and seven rebounds from Nettie Blake, while Morgan Neighbors also added 14 points.

Gannon shot 38.0 percent from the field (27-of-71), 28.0 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (7-of-25) and 55.6 percent at the free throw line (10-of-18).

Wednesday's game leaves Slippery Rock with just five games remaining on the 2013-14 schedule, which includes three at home and two on the road. The first of those home meetings is set for Saturday when Pitt-Johnstown visits Morrow Field House at 1 p.m. That game will serve as the annual "Play 4Kay" breast cancer awareness game and the annual Senior Day game.